The Birth and Nature of the Church

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The Birth and Nature of the Church
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Opening Prayer

• Apostles Creed p.181
• Scripture p.15
• Scripture p.19

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Jesus instituted His Church to spread the Gospel
and dispense Grace. We can know Christs Church
by her four marks.
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Ice Breaker

• In each group, we are going to play a game of Hot
  Potato.
• Each person has to reintroduce themselves to the
  group.
• When the music stops, the person who has
  possession of the Potato is out.
• We will play until we have two winners

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A Vision of the Trinity

• We need three volunteers

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The Holy Trinity

• One God
• Three distinct and equal Persons
• First Person Father
• Second Person Son
• Third Person Holy Spirit
• Each Person acts in perfect union with the others

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Read Paragraphs 1-3on p.15 in your small group
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The Churchs Birthday

• Was Pentecost the first day of the Church?
• No, just as life begins at conception but birth
  occurs nine months later, the Holy Spirit and the
  Church began at Creation.
• The Holy Spirit was sent to us at Pentecost, but
  was always present in the world.
• Before Pentecost the Holy Spirit was preparing
  its mission among us (Kings, Judges, Prophets).
• After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is fulfilling
  its mission among us (Apostles, Popes, Bishops,
  Priests, Deacons, Religious, and in all of us).

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Jesus Founds the Church

• The Church is founded on the New Covenant in
  Jesus Christ.
• Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice to redeem us
  from the penalty of sin, to restore us to grace,
  and to offer us eternal life with God in heaven.
• The Church has one aim, which is to proclaim this
  Covenant (The Gospel) and to invite the whole
  world to enter into it.

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Who is Jesus?

• God the Son The Second Person of the Trinity
  made man.
• True God and True Man
• As God, Jesus is equal with the Father and Holy
  Spirit
• As man, Jesus is like us in all things but sin
• Jesus is the mediator between God and man
• Jesus is the Savior His passion and death was
  the sacrifice that atoned for our sins. We know
  his sacrifice was accepted because of His
  Resurrection
• Jesus founded the Church and instituted (began)
  the sacraments to confer the grace that won upon
  the Cross to mankind. With the life of grace, we
  can live forever with God in Heaven.

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Saint Peter

• Jesus founded the Church but he entrusted its
  care to Peter and his successors (The Popes).
• Jesus said, Upon this rock (Peter), I will build
  my church.
• Jesus gave the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
• Keys are a sign of authority given to a lead
  steward in the absence of the master.
• The steward makes decisions on behalf of the
  master and acts on his behalf until the master
  returns.
• This is why the Pope is called the Vicar of
  Christ.

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The Four Marks of the Church

• There are many Christian Churches and many other
  religions, how do we know that ours is the true
  Church founded by Jesus, the Lord.
• We profess the four marks of the church every
  Sunday during the Apostles Creed
• We say, We believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and
  Apostolic church

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First Mark One

• Catholics share one Faith, one Baptism, one head
  on earth (the pope), one Sacrifice of the Mass
  the same Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.
• We are also united in one Mystical Body of Christ
  through the Holy Spirit.

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Second Mark Holy

• The Church is holy in that she was founded by
  Jesus Christ himself.
• By Christs sacrifice and through the Church, we
  can become holy through holy doctrines and holy
  sacraments.
• The church is sanctified by the Holy Spirit and
  shares in the sanctity of her members, including
  the saints and holy souls.

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Third Catholic

• The church is catholic (meaning universal).
• She is for all people, of every time, until the
  end of time.
• She proclaims the whole Gospel.
• It is through this mark that the Church gets its
  name The Catholic Church

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Fourth Mark Apostolic

• The Church is apostolic in that her beginnings
  date to the days of the apostles who learned from
  and were formed by our Lord.
• The apostles were the first members and teachers.
• Their successors share their work of teaching,
  governing, and sanctifying.
• A special sign of the apostolic succession is the
  Pope, Christs vicar on earth.

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The Holy Spirit

• After Jesus Ascended into Heaven He sent down his
  Holy Spirit upon the Church at Pentecost.
• The Holy Spirit is also called the Advocate, who
  speaks on our behalf to God and Jesus behalf to
  us.
• The Holy Spirit is promised to guide the Church
  into all truth.

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The Two Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church

• Infallibility
• The Holy Spirit protects the Church when the Pope
  or bishops teach things long held by the church,
  embraced throughout time and in all places, as
  true.
• The Holy Spirit protects the councils of bishops
  when gathered with the Pope from error when it
  defines doctrine for the Church.
• When the Pope speaks ex cathedra (from the chair
  of Peter) on Faith and Morals. This has been
  done only a couple of times in 2000 years.
• Idefectibility
• This means that the Catholic Church will be
  present on earth until the end of the world.
• It will continue its mission to teach and spread
  the Gospel until the end of the world.
• We will always have a Pope and bishops and she
  will always teach the truth.

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Surety in our Faith

• The four marks of the Church supported by
  infallibility and indefectibility give us surety
  in our faith.
• Many arguments are laid against the Church but
  the Church has answered them all.
• Most complaints against the Church come from
  personal desire for something different, often
  seeking an element of faith or morals that is
  more convenient.
• For example Why do I have to go to Confession,
  why cant I just say sorry directly to God?
• Answer Because forgiveness requires faith and
  doubt can impede the grace of forgiveness. When
  you encounter Christ, through the priest in
  reconciliation, and he gives you absolution,
  there is no doubt that you are forgiven. It is
  confirmed by the priest. It is easy to doubt
  whether you are really forgiven when you dont
  there is no confirmation. (This is only part of
  the full answer).

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Small Group Activity

• Fill Out Workbook P. 10 11

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Closing Prayer

• Prayer to the Holy Spirit
• Leader Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of you
  faithful
• All And enkindle in them the fire of your love.
• Leader Send forth your Spirit and they shall be
  created.
• All And you will renew the face of the earth.